Small Church Gathering 2018

Saturday, January 20, 2018
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Faith Presbyterian Church
2114 N. Berkely Blvd.
Goldsboro, NC 27533

Join us for a day of celebrating and deepening the ministry of smaller-membership congregations throughout New Hope Presbytery!

For the 2018 Small Church Gathering, we will look at worship. How does this essential time in our life together shape and form the rest of our ministry as congregations? How can our worship reflect our Presbyterian identity, open us to new ways of life together as God’s people, and be filled with the vibrancy of the Holy Spirit?

The day includes a keynote presentation, workshops, worship, fellowship, and lunch. Registration deadline is January 15!

Schedule

9:00 AM	Registration and Fellowship
9:15 AM	Opening Worship Rev. Jan Edmiston, Co-Moderator of the 222nd General Assembly, preaching
10:45 AM	Break
11:00 AM	Morning Workshops
12:00 PM	Lunch
1:00 PM	Afternoon Workshops
2:00 PM	Closing Reflections
2:30 PM	Departures

Morning Workshops on Worship

Making Music in the Small Church
Ida Adams, Ruling Elder, Faith Presbyterian Church; Rev. Andy James, Staff, Presbytery of New Hope; Rev. Mary Harris Todd, Pastor, Morton Memorial Presbyterian Church
Music is an important part of the worship experience for many in our congregations, but it isn't always easy to get people singing in a small church. Join us for a conversation about how to get the congregation involved in music!

Introduction to the New Directory for Worship
Rev. Ted Churn, Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk, Presbytery of New Hope
After a long process of review and revision, a new Directory for Worship took effect in the Book of Order in June 2017. Come and discuss what has changed on paper and in practice!

Worship in a Box: When Your Preacher Can't Make It
George Dudley, Ruling Elder, Wake Forest Presbyterian Church
It's the call every elder dreads on Friday or Saturday or even Sunday morning—the preacher for Sunday is sick or can't make it. How can your church be prepared to worship without a pastoral leader present? Come and discuss some strategies and preparations you can do now to prepare for this moment!

Afternoon Workshops on Ministry

Engage, Inform, Connect: A Fresh Look at Websites and Social Media
Joye Hodges Douthart, Director of Community Life, Discovery Church
Get tips, tools, and resources for establishing and maintaining an effective and engaging web presence, from your website to social media. Hear how you can create and maintain a polished, professional website without having in-depth technical know-how. We'll discuss affordable, accessible software and services to choose from and important policy considerations for churches. Learn how you can develop a social media presence that both engages and informs. We'll examine social media options, communication strategies, and tools for keeping your feed fresh, fun, and relevant.

Clerks of Session
Rev. Ted Churn, Executive Presbyter/Stated Clerk
Join your colleagues serving as clerks of session to talk about the possibilities and perils of this important role in the small church. Learn about the basic responsibilties of clerks and discover how the clerk of session can support the work of your congregation.

Conversations on Race
Rev. Jan Edmiston, Co-Moderator of the 222nd General Assembly
Questions of race and identity swirl everywhere in our society in these days, even when we try to deny them or look beyond them. How can our churches be a healthy place to talk about these issues? How do we start and continue these difficult conversations? The Co-Moderators of the 222nd General Assembly have invited the church into a period of conversation around these and other questions, including the reading of the book Waking Up White. Come and discuss how your congregation can join in this important work.

Youth Ministry in the Small Church
Brandon Melton, Director of Christian Education, North Raleigh Presbyterian Church,
and Rev. David Fuentes, Pastor, West New Bern Presbyterian Church
Do you have youth in your church—even just one or two? They need you! Come and hear about ways to engage middle school and high school youth so that they feel loved, known, and a sense of belonging from their church family—three things that youth constantly seek.

Contact

Andy James
New Hope Presbytery
919-322-0143 x108
cajames@nhpresbytery.org